LOS ANGELES -- The Center Theatre Group was the big winner at the 5th annual Theatre L.A. Ovation Awards ceremony at the Shubert Theatre, Mon. Dec. 16, walking off with nine out of twenty-six trophies.

LOS ANGELES -- The Center Theatre Group was the big winner at the 5th annual Theatre L.A. Ovation Awards ceremony at the Shubert Theatre, Mon. Dec. 16, walking off with nine out of twenty-six trophies.

Such CTG productions as Cider House Rules, Chicago, Rent, Bring in Da Noise, Bring in Da Funk and Enemy of the People were singled out.

Chicago copped the Best Musical (larger theatre) award and Cider House Best Play (large theatre).

In the small theatre category, the Circle X Theatre Company's production of Glen Berger's Great Men of Science Nos. 21 & 22 won prizes for Best Play, Set Design and Costume Design. The Equity-waiver production of Request Concert received two awards.

Another little-theatre entry, Valsetz, by first-time playwright Pamela Forrest, was cited for Best World Premiere and Lead Actress (Patricia Place). East West Players, which operates out of a new, mid-sized house in Japan Town, also won two prizes for its production of Pacific Overtures: Costume Design and Best Director of a Musical (Tim Dang).

The Mark Taper Forum's two-part production of The Cider House Rules, adapted by Peter Parnell from John Irving's 1985 best-selling novel, had topped this year's nominees. Kander and Ebb's Chicago, voted Best Musical, had taken the most nods for a musical with 10 nominations. Last year, the pre-Broadway run of Ragtime broke Ovation history, capturing eight awards from their record-breaking 16 nominations.

The Ovations have 26 categories in all and, with the exception of acting, direction, choreography and writing, include separate awards for larger and smaller theatres. They are the only "peer-based" competitive awards in Los Angeles theatre.

During the voting season, which ran Sept. 1, 1997 to Aug. 31, 1998, 281 productions were eligible to compete, of which 105 were world premiere plays or musicals and 21 were new translations or adaptations. Productions (all of them Equity) were submitted by Theatre L.A. member companies. Votes are then tallied by the firm, KPMG Peat Marwick.

The Awards are administered by Theatre LA, a non-profit association of more than 150 theatres and producers in Los Angeles. Programs include the Theatre Times directory in the Los Angeles Times, the Associate Member program, the Theatre LA News and Opening Night Calendar, information services to the Los Angeles theatre community, and the Times Half-Price Tix ticket outlet at Jerry's Famous Deli in West Hollywood.

A special, non-competitive award went to Imagination Workshop, which provides services to two mental institutions, a geriatric center and two schools. The Imagination Workshop methodology is based on the artistic intervention technique of acting, including imaginative encounters between patients who create characters that interact and improvise with each other. The Workshop was founded in 1969 by actress Margaret Ladd and developed with her husband, playwright Lyle Kessler.

Here's the full list of Ovation nominees and winners (marked with an asterisk):

Best Musical -- Large TheatrePacific Overtures, East West PlayersPeter Pan, La Mirada Theatre for the Performing ArtsBlame It on the Movies -- Pasadena PlayhouseBring in 'Da Noise, Bring in 'Da Funk, The Ahmanson Theatre *B CHICAGO, The Ahmanson Theatre

Best Lead Actor in a Musical * DEVEN MAY (Bat Boy -- The Musical)Brent Barrett (Chicago) David Engel (Blame It on the Movies) Jeff Trachta (3 Guys Naked From the Waist Down) Lego Louis (On the Twentieth Century)

Lead Actor in a Play Sir Ian McKellen (An Enemy of the People) Michael Winters (The Cider House Rules) * TONY ABATEMARCO (The Mystery of Irma Vep)Frank Langella (The Father)Josh Hamilton (The Cider House Rules)

Best Featured Actor in a Play Christopher Duncan (The Old Settler) * TOM BEYER (The Cider House Rules) Bobs Watson (Of Mice and Men) Martin McDougall (Burning Blue) Kevin Jackson (The Cider House Rules)

Best Set Design -- Large Theatre * JOHN NAPIER (An Enemy of the People) John Arnone (The Cider House Rules) David Jenkins (Dealer's Choice) Gary Wissmann (The Old Settler) Markas Henry (Old Wicked Songs)